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Soldier Under Three Flags: Exploits of Special Forces' Captain Larry A. Thorne | 
 enlarge | Author: H. A. Gill
Publisher: Pathfinder Publishing
Category: Book
Buy Used: $40.99
Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 180748
Media: Paperback
Pages: 208
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5
ISBN: 0934793654
Dewey Decimal Number: 356.167092
EAN: 9780934793650
ASIN: 0934793654
Publication Date: April 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Very Good Soft Cover , no marking or writing noted, (b-3)
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Book Description
A captivating story about a controversial WWII hero who fought for Finland, Germany, and the U.S.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Excellent topic for a Biography-Superficial Treatment October 6, 1999
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Soldier Under Three Flags relates the story of Larry Thorne (Lauri Torni) a Finnish soldier who emigrated to the US and had a distinguished career in Special Forces. One might imagine this would be a great subject for a biography but unfortunately, this book does not do justice to its subject. Thorne's Finnish military service is rife with inaccuracies, reflecting some poor research. For instance we read that during the Winter War, "the Scandinavian midnight sun lowered Russian (sic) soldiers morale", and "they disliked the forests...which they called the 'White Death' [Byelo Smert]." Well, "midnight sun" refers to the almost continual sunlight during the SUMMER. No one who's been to Finland in the winter could possibly mistake the almost permanent darkness for the midnight sun. Also, "Byelo Smert" refers to the white uniforms of the SOLDIERS not the forest. Finally, the author is less than fully forthcoming in Torni's association with the Waffen SS. He did attend training as the text describes, but he also fought in the Finnish SS battalion, which was part of the "Nordland" SS Division. In describing Torni's subsequent SF career the author appears more comfortable with the subject matter. However, battles are discussed very generally, with no details on his combat leadership, and there are no stories by those who knew him best-his troops. At best we get variations on, "he was a great soldier, and a great guy" nothing more. Finally, the author needlessly complicates his narrative by referring to Thorne/Torni's by the pseudonyms he used as he changed his name throughout his life; confusing to say the least. As a cursory account of this fascinating character's life this book may be acceptable, but it's basic errors regarding the Winter and Continuation Wars make it suspect for any more than the most basic background.
 Poor home work for Gill October 2, 2000
Juha Tuominen (Toijala Finland)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Gill is really superficial in this book. The overall story is quite fascinating, to say the least, but there are so many inaccuracies in the book that it should not have been published at all. I personally found the book unpleasant to read, because Gill had used the Finnish words for the most important terms. And mostly wrong. As a Finn, I find it troubling and makes reading uneasy. It also makes me wonder about other facts which have been presented in this book. I also did not understand why there was a photo of the former president Mauno Koivisto presented but no story attached. Maybe there was a reason?
Fascinating Subject-Superficial Treatment September 30, 1999
J. Collins (Las Vegas, NV USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
"Soldier Under Three Flags" attempts to portray the life of US Army Captain Larry Thorne (Lauri Torni). This man is a legend in both the Finnish and American armies; his exploits definitely deserve documentation. Unfortunately, this isn't it. The book is written in a, well, superficial style. Battle scenes on the Eastern Front that would be excellent vehicles to show Torni's maturing leadership and command style are only sketchily covered, and numerous inaccuracies detract from the subject at hand. For example, we read that due to the "Scandinavian (Finland is not technically Scandinavia) midnight sun, dense forest" etc the Russians suffered low morale during the Winter War. Well, I've been in Finland during the winter and there ain't NO sun at all. "Midnight Sun" actually refers to almost continous daylight during the summer. Also, the author can't get simple German phrases accurate: "zu Befehl" does not mean "at once"-that word is "sofort", it literally means, "at (your) orders, and "werewolf" in German is simply "werwolf" not "werwulf". When Captain Thorne emigrates to America, and joins Special Forces, the author seems to be on more comfortable ground, with better flow up to the end of the book. All in all, for a very generalized, and inaccurate in spots, accounting of a Finnish and American patriot, and combat leader this may suffice. The historian however, needs to look elsewhere.
Larger than Life! October 23, 2007
Thorulf (Minnesota)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
A basic narrative of the life of famed Special Forces man, Larry Thorne. The great epic of Thorne's life began in his native Finland, where he distinguished himself as a junior officer, in the defence of his nation against the communist invasion in 1939.
Thorne, originally named Lauri Torne in his homeland, volunteered for advanced military training in Germany during World War II, through the Waffen S.S. As Finland became a reluctant ally of Germany out of necessity for national survival, they conducted the Continuation War against the Soviet Union in 1941, in order to regain lost territory. Here Thorne gained fame and notoriety as a leader of a Finnish Jaeger (special operations) company).
They end of the Second World War found Thorne attending Werewulf training in Germany, where he ultimately volunteered to assist in the defense of Germany against the invading Soviet army.
As the pro-communist post-war government of Finland proved to be politically dangerous for Thorne, he eventually emmigrated to America. With the aid of other Finnish army veterans, he found a new life as an officer in Special Forces. One of the sponsors who aided him in this transition was none other than O.S.S. founder "Wild Bill" Donovan.
A veteran of three armies and four wars, Thorne's career is certainly among the most astounding in terms of vast and varied experience.
 Excellent and fascinating March 14, 1999
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
I really liked this book. It held my interest and was extremely easy to read. It is easy to understand the authors fascination with Larry Thorne. I appreciate the 23 years of effort the author made to bring this story to us.
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